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bright green buckwheat, two-tooth wild buckwheat, twotooth buckwheat

flat-top buckwheat, Smith's wild buckwheat

Habit Herbs, spreading, annual, (0.5–)1–2(–3) dm, tomentose, greenish, grayish, or reddish. Shrubs, erect to spreading, not scapose, (3–)4–10 × 5–20 dm, glabrous, bright green.
Stems

caudex absent;

aerial flowering stems erect, not striated or angled, solid, not fistulose, 0.2–0.8 dm, tomentose.

spreading, without persistent leaf bases, up to 1/3 height of plant;

caudex stems absent;

aerial flowering stems erect to spreading, slender, solid, not fistulose, 0.2–2 dm, glabrous.

Leaves

basal and cauline;

basal: petiole 0.5–1 cm, floccose, blade lanceolate to obovate, (0.5–)2–3 × 1.5–2 cm, tomentose abaxially, floccose to glabrate and grayish to greenish adaxially, margins entire or occasionally crenulate;

cauline sessile, blade lanceolate to oblanceolate, 0.5–2 × 0.3–1 cm, similar to basal blade.

cauline on proximal 2/3 of stem, 1 per node;

petiole 0.3–0.5 cm, floccose or glabrous;

blade narrowly elliptic, 2.5–4.5 × (0.3–)0.6–1 cm, glabrous and green on both surfaces, rarely thinly floccose adaxially, margins occasionally slightly revolute.

Inflorescences

cymose, open, 4–25 × 5–30 cm;

branches tomentose;

bracts 3, scalelike, 0.5–2.5 × 1–2 mm.

cymose, open to compact, 2–25 × 3–35 cm;

branches often with involucres racemosely arranged at tips of inflorescence, glabrous;

bracts 3, scalelike, linear to triangular, 1.5–4.5 mm.

Peduncles

spreading, straight, capillary, 1–2 cm, sparsely glandular.

absent.

Involucres

campanulate, 2–3 × 2–4 mm, finely glandular;

teeth 5, erect, 0.4–0.8 mm.

1 per node, turbinate, (2.5–)3–3.5 × 2–2.5 mm, glabrous;

teeth 5, erect, 0.3–0.5 mm.

Flowers

1–2.5 mm;

perianth white to rose, glandular;

tepals dimorphic, those of outer whorl obovate to spatulate, broadly inflated above middle, those of inner whorl narrowly spatulate;

stamens included, 1–2 mm;

filaments pilose proximally.

3–4 mm;

perianth yellow, glabrous;

tepals connate proximal 1/4, slightly dimorphic, those of outer whorl obovate, 1.5–2 mm wide, those of inner whorl oblanceolate, 1–1.5 mm wide;

stamens exserted, 2–5(–7) mm;

filaments pilose proximally.

Achenes

light brown, 3-gonous, 1–1.5 mm, glabrous.

brown, 3–3.5 mm, glabrous except for minutely papillate beak.

2n

= 40.

Eriogonum viridescens

Eriogonum smithii

Phenology Flowering Apr–Nov. Flowering Jul–Oct.
Habitat Sandy to gravelly or clayey flats and slopes, mixed grassland, chaparral, saltbush, and creosote bush communities, oak and conifer woodlands Deep, moving, red blow sand, mixed grassland and scrub oak communities
Elevation 100-1700 m (300-5600 ft) 1400-1900 m (4600-6200 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
UT
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Eriogonum viridescens is infrequent in the Inner Coast and the Transverse ranges (Fresno, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Merced, Monterey, Riverside, San Benito, western San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties). Unlike those of the more widespread E. maculatum, the outer tepals of E. viridescens are swollen apically, rather than basally. A collection made at Crystal Springs in the Coso Mountains of Inyo County (Coville & Funston 909, DS, US) probably is accurately labeled but the location remains to be confirmed by modern collections.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Of conservation concern.

Eriogonum smithii is restricted to the San Rafael Desert of Emery and Wayne counties. Plants from Little Gilson Butte (J. L. Anderson 86-228, BRY) have leaf blades thinly floccose on the abaxial surface but are otherwise similar to the shrubs found at Flat Top to the east. Smith’s wild buckwheat occurs in selenium-rich sands, which may limit its ability to be cultivated. The bright green, brilliantly yellow-flowered plants would make an elegant addition to the garden.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 5, p. 412. FNA vol. 5, p. 260.
Parent taxa Polygonaceae > subfam. Eriogonoideae > Eriogonum > subg. Ganysma Polygonaceae > subfam. Eriogonoideae > Eriogonum > subg. Eucycla
Sibling taxa
E. abertianum, E. acaule, E. alatum, E. aliquantum, E. allenii, E. alpinum, E. ammophilum, E. ampullaceum, E. androsaceum, E. anemophilum, E. angulosum, E. annuum, E. apiculatum, E. apricum, E. arborescens, E. arcuatum, E. aretioides, E. argillosum, E. argophyllum, E. arizonicum, E. artificis, E. atrorubens, E. baileyi, E. batemanii, E. bicolor, E. bifurcatum, E. brachyanthum, E. brachypodum, E. brandegeei, E. breedlovei, E. brevicaule, E. butterworthianum, E. caespitosum, E. capillare, E. cernuum, E. chrysops, E. cinereum, E. cithariforme, E. clavatum, E. clavellatum, E. codium, E. collinum, E. coloradense, E. compositum, E. concinnum, E. congdonii, E. contiguum, E. contortum, E. correllii, E. corymbosum, E. covilleanum, E. crocatum, E. cronquistii, E. crosbyae, E. cusickii, E. darrovii, E. dasyanthemum, E. davidsonii, E. deflexum, E. deserticola, E. desertorum, E. diatomaceum, E. diclinum, E. divaricatum, E. douglasii, E. eastwoodianum, E. effusum, E. elatum, E. elegans, E. elongatum, E. ephedroides, E. eremicola, E. eremicum, E. ericifolium, E. esmeraldense, E. evanidum, E. exaltatum, E. exilifolium, E. fasciculatum, E. flavum, E. fusiforme, E. giganteum, E. gilmanii, E. glandulosum, E. gordonii, E. gossypinum, E. gracile, E. gracilipes, E. gracillimum, E. grande, E. greggii, E. gypsophilum, E. havardii, E. heermannii, E. helichrysoides, E. hemipterum, E. heracleoides, E. hieracifolium, E. hirtellum, E. hirtiflorum, E. hoffmannii, E. holmgrenii, E. hookeri, E. howellianum, E. hylophilum, E. incanum, E. inerme, E. inflatum, E. intrafractum, E. jamesii, E. jonesii, E. kelloggii, E. kennedyi, E. kingii, E. lachnogynum, E. lancifolium, E. latens, E. latifolium, E. lemmonii, E. leptocladon, E. leptophyllum, E. libertini, E. lobbii, E. loganum, E. lonchophyllum, E. longifolium, E. luteolum, E. maculatum, E. mancum, E. marifolium, E. mensicola, E. microthecum, E. mitophyllum, E. mohavense, E. molestum, E. mortonianum, E. multiflorum, E. natum, E. nealleyi, E. nervulosum, E. nidularium, E. niveum, E. nortonii, E. novonudum, E. nudum, E. nummulare, E. nutans, E. ochrocephalum, E. ordii, E. ostlundii, E. ovalifolium, E. palmerianum, E. panamintense, E. panguicense, E. parishii, E. parvifolium, E. pauciflorum, E. pelinophilum, E. pendulum, E. pharnaceoides, E. plumatella, E. polycladon, E. polypodum, E. prattenianum, E. prociduum, E. pulchrum, E. pusillum, E. pyrolifolium, E. racemosum, E. reniforme, E. ripleyi, E. rixfordii, E. robustum, E. rosense, E. roseum, E. rotundifolium, E. rubricaule, E. rupinum, E. salicornioides, E. saxatile, E. scabrellum, E. scopulorum, E. shockleyi, E. siskiyouense, E. smithii, E. soliceps, E. soredium, E. spathulatum, E. spectabile, E. spergulinum, E. sphaerocephalum, E. strictum, E. subreniforme, E. suffruticosum, E. temblorense, E. tenellum, E. ternatum, E. terrenatum, E. thomasii, E. thompsoniae, E. thornei, E. thurberi, E. thymoides, E. tiehmii, E. tomentosum, E. trichopes, E. tripodum, E. truncatum, E. tumulosum, E. twisselmannii, E. umbellatum, E. ursinum, E. vestitum, E. villiflorum, E. vimineum, E. viridulum, E. viscidulum, E. visheri, E. watsonii, E. wetherillii, E. wootonii, E. wrightii, E. zionis
E. abertianum, E. acaule, E. alatum, E. aliquantum, E. allenii, E. alpinum, E. ammophilum, E. ampullaceum, E. androsaceum, E. anemophilum, E. angulosum, E. annuum, E. apiculatum, E. apricum, E. arborescens, E. arcuatum, E. aretioides, E. argillosum, E. argophyllum, E. arizonicum, E. artificis, E. atrorubens, E. baileyi, E. batemanii, E. bicolor, E. bifurcatum, E. brachyanthum, E. brachypodum, E. brandegeei, E. breedlovei, E. brevicaule, E. butterworthianum, E. caespitosum, E. capillare, E. cernuum, E. chrysops, E. cinereum, E. cithariforme, E. clavatum, E. clavellatum, E. codium, E. collinum, E. coloradense, E. compositum, E. concinnum, E. congdonii, E. contiguum, E. contortum, E. correllii, E. corymbosum, E. covilleanum, E. crocatum, E. cronquistii, E. crosbyae, E. cusickii, E. darrovii, E. dasyanthemum, E. davidsonii, E. deflexum, E. deserticola, E. desertorum, E. diatomaceum, E. diclinum, E. divaricatum, E. douglasii, E. eastwoodianum, E. effusum, E. elatum, E. elegans, E. elongatum, E. ephedroides, E. eremicola, E. eremicum, E. ericifolium, E. esmeraldense, E. evanidum, E. exaltatum, E. exilifolium, E. fasciculatum, E. flavum, E. fusiforme, E. giganteum, E. gilmanii, E. glandulosum, E. gordonii, E. gossypinum, E. gracile, E. gracilipes, E. gracillimum, E. grande, E. greggii, E. gypsophilum, E. havardii, E. heermannii, E. helichrysoides, E. hemipterum, E. heracleoides, E. hieracifolium, E. hirtellum, E. hirtiflorum, E. hoffmannii, E. holmgrenii, E. hookeri, E. howellianum, E. hylophilum, E. incanum, E. inerme, E. inflatum, E. intrafractum, E. jamesii, E. jonesii, E. kelloggii, E. kennedyi, E. kingii, E. lachnogynum, E. lancifolium, E. latens, E. latifolium, E. lemmonii, E. leptocladon, E. leptophyllum, E. libertini, E. lobbii, E. loganum, E. lonchophyllum, E. longifolium, E. luteolum, E. maculatum, E. mancum, E. marifolium, E. mensicola, E. microthecum, E. mitophyllum, E. mohavense, E. molestum, E. mortonianum, E. multiflorum, E. natum, E. nealleyi, E. nervulosum, E. nidularium, E. niveum, E. nortonii, E. novonudum, E. nudum, E. nummulare, E. nutans, E. ochrocephalum, E. ordii, E. ostlundii, E. ovalifolium, E. palmerianum, E. panamintense, E. panguicense, E. parishii, E. parvifolium, E. pauciflorum, E. pelinophilum, E. pendulum, E. pharnaceoides, E. plumatella, E. polycladon, E. polypodum, E. prattenianum, E. prociduum, E. pulchrum, E. pusillum, E. pyrolifolium, E. racemosum, E. reniforme, E. ripleyi, E. rixfordii, E. robustum, E. rosense, E. roseum, E. rotundifolium, E. rubricaule, E. rupinum, E. salicornioides, E. saxatile, E. scabrellum, E. scopulorum, E. shockleyi, E. siskiyouense, E. soliceps, E. soredium, E. spathulatum, E. spectabile, E. spergulinum, E. sphaerocephalum, E. strictum, E. subreniforme, E. suffruticosum, E. temblorense, E. tenellum, E. ternatum, E. terrenatum, E. thomasii, E. thompsoniae, E. thornei, E. thurberi, E. thymoides, E. tiehmii, E. tomentosum, E. trichopes, E. tripodum, E. truncatum, E. tumulosum, E. twisselmannii, E. umbellatum, E. ursinum, E. vestitum, E. villiflorum, E. vimineum, E. viridescens, E. viridulum, E. viscidulum, E. visheri, E. watsonii, E. wetherillii, E. wootonii, E. wrightii, E. zionis
Synonyms E. angulosum subsp. bidentatum, E. angulosum subsp. viridescens, E. angulosum var. viridescens, E. bidentatum E. corymbosum var. smithii
Name authority A. Heller: Muhlenbergia 2: 25. (1905) Reveal: Great Basin Naturalist 27: 202, fig. 6. (1968)
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